Indecisive on PhD projects - need some advice (Feb/25/2008 )
I am currently in Geneva and I got another PhD offer from Berlin on my second day of lab. I talked to my boss here and he is very supportive in any decision I make. I just feel bad just ditching him. Well just let me put down some advantages and disadvantages.
I will list down some advantages:
In geneva,
great pay and increment of 25% each year.
more personal interaction with supervisor. most probably getting out more papers than in berlin.saying that, i think it will be more successful in geneva than in berlin.
In berlin,
max planck reputation can be good too. the group i am going to is large and well known.
project wise, it is dealing with bacteria H. pylori and it is molecular biology, something i am quite interested.
got to know great bunch of people there when during the interview.
fantastic city and there are more things to do there than in geneva.
most probably i will be happier in berlin than in geneva because of the friends support and i can be easily adjusted there than in geneva.
The disadvantages:
In geneva,
Small city and i am not sure if i can like the city for 3-4 years
i am dealing with mouse work and immunology. I wouldnt mind immunology but dealing with mouse is abit difficult to me.
not as much friends support i can get from berlin.
In berlin,
less pay a month, might be tough to even save money.
Big group, can be political, less interaction with supervisor. might not be publishing more papers in berlin than in geneva.
Those mentioned are my main concerns. so i am not really sure yet.
do let me know what do you guys think.
Any advices much appreciated. Thanks.
I think you should stay in Geneva, for the following reasons: (1) more papers=better postdoc position=better career, (2) assuming your supervisor is a good guy (sounds like he is) and you like him, more interaction is better, (3) if I'm not mistaken, Berlin's an expensive city, and less money is going to sting, (4) 'political' labs suck, (5) you'll get used to mice pretty quickly, I know I did and I had a rodent phobia when I started, and (6) it doesn't really matter what you think of the town you're in, you're going to be spending most of your time in the lab. Most any major city has enough diversions for the average grad student.
I'd stay in Geneva.
1, even though the boss will support what ever decision you make, he doesn't want you to go.
2, you're in europe, it's not a big deal to spend a weekend away in france or italy. don't worry about not likeing the town you're in... you have a continent to explore.
3, being more successful in geneva will outshine whatever prestige you will get from the berlin institute.
4, mice are cute little bundles of joy (or madness)... you can always bribe animal technicians to handle the icky bits.
5, money...
V
Hey friend,
If I were you, I will still prefer to stay in Geneva no matter how much it cost. Well, try to skip the scenario of thinking that you are happier at Berlin. If you can be adaptive, you can be happy at anywhere. Agree? Advantages at Geneva are surely more than enough for you to stay...I think. (It's my opinion 
)
Best regards,
cheerioet.
timjim,
great to hear that you are in Berlin now... somewhere far away from here... not like me. still stuck in this same old place no matter what.
post-grad project is always not easy. me too undergone some difficult time when i just start my project here (financially and PI also). However, everything is only temporarily. when you get used to it and getting familiar with the environment (and people)... you should be all right.
I think (my opinion) is that you should stay in Geneva. Good pay, more papers, learn from your supervisors... sounds OK to me. Just try to be patient till you finish your project. You never know that maybe after sometimes you'll fall in love with Geneva!!!
You said that maybe you'll be happier in Berlin... well, maybe not. Big group tends to have more "lab politic". You might not be happy working in such environment (who knows?). What you see (or who you meet) during interview might not be "real". You'll only know the "true colours" when you working IN and working WITH the people there.
I'm not saying Berlin is not good, I'm just telling you another possibility. Maybe at this point, it is better if you can work with people/group that can guarantee you good papers and good opportunities. If you don't like the place, you can look for better place after grad... by that time, you already built a good reputation by publishing papers etc. 既来之， 则安之。。。right?
working with mice is not that bad... ya... maybe you'll feel bad about killing your little zodiac friends. but believe me, you can learn a lot from these little friends (i keep hamsters and i love them... thats why i hate working with rodents too...).
decision is always in your hands.... whatever it is, you have my support... good luck and all the best!
p/s: have you register as voter? guess you are unable to come back to vote...
Are you married? If not, go to Berlin, the reputation of big institute will help you in future. If the boss in Berlin is also famous, and you are a confident guy, go ahead.
Staying at the small lab is safer but it is difficult to become a big boss.
You put pros and contras of each city, right? What is most important to YOU??
Whatever decision you are going to make, is not wright or wrong. It is just a road you choose in the life.
If you would ask me, sleep on it and you will know which way to go 
Good luck
Thank you for everyone's advices. I guess the most important thing is being happy in life isnt it?
I am really thankful to have such options, I mean, it is one in a million to get such offers to further my PhD. I think I have nothing to lose. I know alot of people gave their own opinion to stay in geneva. But I had talked to my family as well.
I really like berlin and the project dealing with bacteria and molecular biology. I still like geneva but just not as much. For the project wise, i am not sure if i really like it. Well, i can force myself to like it. But it is for 3-4 years.
True enough, i might not be as successful in Berlin than in Geneva, but I guess it is a challenge for me. I hope I am not making a wrong choice. hope not.
Good Luck
It is not about making " wrong" choice. You should do what you feel it is good for you (either in Geneva or in Berlin). However, there won't be a way back at this point. Be sure what you really want. It is good to ask for advice but it is your life and you are the one who's going to decide (I know that feeling as well).
Good luck